25 free things to do in Los Angeles this September 2019

With the arrival of Labor Day, summer may seem to be slipping away—but there are still plenty of seasonal free things to do in September after the long weekend. From a surf competition at a dog beach to a car-free fest in Santa Monica, these are the best ways to make the most of your month without breaking into your wallet.

Through Sept 1Free Shakespeare in Griffith Park; Old ZooBard fanatics, flock to Griffith Park and bring along a blanket for free outdoor performances from the Independent Shakespeare Co.

Through Sept 2Fiesta Hermosa; Downtown Hermosa BeachRoam the 400 stalls at this arts festival, sample the fine foods and listen to the music—and then take a dip in the nearby Pacific.

Through Sept 5The Music Center Plaza Reopening; The Musis CenterThe half-century–old Music Center Plaza unveils the results of its 20-month, $41 million renovation with a slew of free outdoor celebrations.

Sept 6–22Light the Barricades; Grand Park • Natural History Museum • Annenberg Community Beach HouseThe Annenberg Space for Photography is mounting its first citywide public art installation with a trio of illuminated walls.

Sept 7Ever Present; Getty CenterScope out an evening of performances inspired by Mort Garson’s Plantasia, a ’70s electronic album designed to help plants grow.

Sept 7“Judy Chicago: Los Angeles”; Jeffrey DeitchSurvey some of the feminist artist’s early works, from her time spent in Los Angeles and Fresno between 1965 and 1972, including a mix of paintings, drawings, sculpture, installations and documentation of Chicago’s environmental and fireworks projects.

Sept 7KCRW Summer Nights; 1st and Linden Ave, Long BeachBust a move as this beloved live music and DJ series wraps up in Long Beach during Buskerfest.

Sept 14Entertainment on Draft; Alamo DrafthouseSwing by DTLA’s new Alamo Drafthouse for a free-to-enter rooftop food fest, featuring a DJ set from Questlove and a screening of Tastemade’s new documentary Funke.

Sept 14Off the 405; Getty CenterCatch a performance from Ex Hex and a DJ set by King Tuff during the closeout of this free summertime concert series.

Sept 14Proud Picnic + Movie Night; Grand ParkCelebrate the freedom to love whomever you please at this LGBTQ picnic, which includes a selection of short films as well as a screening of Changing the Game, a documentary about transgender high school athletes.

Michael Juliano is the editor in Los Angeles and has been with Time Out since 2013.

He helps Angelenos keep up with all of the city's most inspiring happenings, including L.A.'s best things to do and its arts and culture scene. Michael has called L.A. home since 2011 and previously contributed to KPCC, The A.V. Club and CNET. He has a soft spot for deli sandwiches and Disneyland.